Reserve News October 2017
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Reserve News October 2017 Staff Changes In September David Saunders joined SWT as the new Director of Land Management. He comes with a wealth of knowledge particularly in woodland management and we are now working through a programme of site visits so he can get to know all our wonderful nature reserves. Volunteer BBQ At the beginning of September we were delighted to welcome some of our nature reserve volunteers to Woods Mill for our now annual barbeque. This is our opportunity to say thank you for all the wonderful work you carry out on reserves over the year, and we were pleased that despite the weather forecast and road closures around Woods Mill, so many of you were able to attend. Whether or not you attended, we would like to say a big thank you for all the work you contribute to the nature reserves – we really couldn’t achieve all we do for wildlife without your help. New Volunteer Group If you are based in East Sussex you may be interested in a brand new extra volunteer group at Flatropers Wood. We hope this group will meet once a month to help out with tasks on the reserve and contribute to the recording of wildlife too. Our first meeting is on October 5th, but as yet we haven’t decided on a regular day. If you are interested in joining the group, then please do contact Alice on [email protected] Wildlife highlights At Selwyns Wood near Heathfield, Coral-root has been discovered on a ride managed by the volunteer group, so a direct success of the great work happening on site. This is the only record of this species over the whole of the reserve network. Another new species to the reserve network is Orange Sallow, caught in the moth trap at Southerham Barn. The trap has also had a few nice migrants in recent weeks, including Palpita vitrealis, and Delicate. Willow Emerald Damselfly is a recent colonist to this country and has been spotted around the lake at Woods Mill for the last few years. This year however, we have received definite proof of their breeding on site. Finally, over at Butcherlands, next to Ebernoe Common, the Triangle Spider Hyptiotes paradoxus has been found during invertebrate surveys by our Senior Ecologist Graeme Lyons. This is only the 2nd Sussex record for the species. Looking to volunteer with us? Please check the web site to find out where we are currently look for volunteers to get involved and then register your interest by completing our registration form, specifying which reserve or project you are interested in https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/get- involved/volunteer/volunteer-registration-form If you would like an informal chat about what is happening locally and how you could get involved at your local reserve please contact the reserve or project lead listed below. WEST SUSSEX RESERVES WITH PRACTICAL DAYS Ebernoe Common GU28 9LD or SU 975 278 near. Petworth and Wisborough Green Almost 200 acres of ancient woodland with glades and ponds plus 200 acres of farmland, much of which is now being grazed as part of the conversion from arable to wood pasture. This reserve seems enchanted with its many diverse species of woodland plants and animals. Delightful in spring with its violets and daffodils and in autumn with fungi. Although grazing has been re- introduced to this ancient wood pasture it is still necessary to control the invasive bracken and holly and keep the glades and rides open for butterflies etc. (Monthly task day usually a Saturday and/or Tuesday) Contact: Colin Booty on: 01403 732175 Meet: 10.00 at Ebernoe church (down track signposted church, 1 mile east of A283). Graffham Common GU28 0PT or SU932196 near Midhurst. Our newest nature reserve. Graffham Common is a heathland reserve, recently restored from pine plantations. Rare heathland birds have already returned to the site. Work groups will focus on scrub removal to protect the re-emerging heathland habitat. Contact: Jane Willmott on: 07557 162406 or [email protected] Levin Down PO18 0HU or SU 887 131 near Chichester and Midhurst A lovely hill of south and east facing downland and mixed scrub including juniper and the very rare chalk heath habitat. Parts of the reserve are carpeted with chalk loving flowers in summer, and the reserve is also good for butterflies such as Brown Argus, Grizzled Skipper and Brown Hairstreak. The management includes clearing scrub - to open up the grassland and provide glades for the butterflies and to keep pathways open. (Twice monthly task day usually a Sunday, Oct – Mar, volunteers 18yrs+ only please). Contact: Volunteer Development Team on: [email protected] 01273 497 562 Meet: 10.00am at Charlton Cross Roads. West Dean Woods PO18 0RU or SU 845 153 near Chichester and Midhurst This is a superb example of an ancient hazel coppice, which is worked in a traditional way by the volunteers, producing hedgelaying rods and stakes, beanpoles etc. The woodland floor is covered in flowers in the spring, and there is a huge colony of daffodils in the north of the reserve. New volunteer input is required here to continue the excellent work started some 30 years ago. (Task days every Monday (except in Summer) and Thursdays most of the year). Contact: Phil King on: [email protected] 07701 371198 Meet: A286 Chichester-Midhurst, at West Dean take minor road opposite The Dean Public House for 2 miles, at reserve sign take track through woodland on right. Woods Mill BN5 9SD or TQ 218 138 near Henfield The headquarters of the Sussex Wildlife Trust and the best educational reserve in the land! Its different habitat types, which include meadow, wetlands, scrub and ancient woodland makes the work varied and interesting. This weekly Friday group is often at full capacity. Contact: Volunteer Development Team on: [email protected] 01273 497 562 EAST SUSSEX RESERVES WITH PRACTICAL DAYS Rye Harbour TN31 7TX or TQ 941 189 near Rye Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is fabulous for its wetland and coastal wildlife. Bare shingle, saltmarsh, pasture, open water, reedbeds and willow scrub make for varied habitats and varied tasks to manage them! There is a wide variety of volunteering opportunities. Contact: Linda Wren or Andy Dinsdale on 01797 227 784 or [email protected] Filsham Reedbed TN38 8DY or TQ 780088 near Bexhill and Hastings One of the largest surviving reedbeds in Sussex is home to many breeding warblers during the summer. The ponds attract many birds in the autumn and winter including Harriers, Bitterns and Kingfishers. Tasks include scrub and reed cutting, maintaining paths for visitor access, and keeping the open water areas free from encroaching vegetation. (Monthly task day usually a Saturday) Contact: Anthony Brown on 07933 607926 Flatropers Wood TN31 6TH or TQ 863 234 near Rye and Northiam This lovely Wealden wood consists mostly of oak and birch, which used to be managed for timber production. There is a stream and a pond that supports palmate newts. Bracken and trees need to be managed in places to encourage the spread of heather, and the ride edges need to be coppiced, to promote increased diversity of flora and butterflies. (task days usually at weekends) Contact: Derek Bates on 01424 425538 or Alice Parfitt on [email protected] Gillham Wood TN39 3BA or TQ 716 069 near Cooden nr. Bexhill This 7.9 acre reserve is an oasis within Cooden village. The wood is mainly oak with holly, hazel and the delightful guelder rose. Indicators of the woods age include the prickly butcher’s broom. Keen residents manage the wood as members of the Friends of Gillham Wood. (task day usually the first Saturday of each quarter) Contact: Alice Parfitt on [email protected] Malling Down BN7 2RU or TQ 423 107 near Lewes This chalk downland area is rich in flowers such as the Common Spotted Orchid and Round Headed Rampion and is a stronghold for the rare Adonis Blue butterfly and Silver Spotted Skipper. It is essential to keep scrub from taking over the shorter and warmer turf that the butterflies and Downland flowers like. (Monthly task day usually a Sunday, October - February) Contact: Peter Hodge on 01273 812047 Meet: Usually the top of Mill Road, Lewes at 10:00 am. Marline Valley TN38 9NY or TQ 783 122 near Hastings and Battle A beautiful mixture of woodlands, streams and meadows. The hornbeam woods produce a riot of colourful flowers in spring, the stream supports many rare mosses and the meadows are excellent for flowers and butterflies. Scrub around the meadow needs to be coppiced, bramble and bracken controlled, and the footpath network needs maintaining. (Monthly task day usually a Sunday) Contact: Owen Johnson 01424 426986 [email protected] Meet: 9.45 am. As this is a large reserve with difficult parking, please contact the leader to find each working group. Lifts are available from Hastings Station by prior arrangement. Old Lodge TN22 3JD or TQ 470 30 near Crowborough and Forest Row Part of the Ashdown Forest, work is still needed here to maintain a mixture of pine woodland and heathland. A good site for heathland birds and a wide range of dragonflies. Pine, birch, bracken and gorse need to be controlled on this large area to complement the work done by grazing animals, and some work needs to be done on the many small ponds. Contact: Martin Wilkinson on 01892 542929 Meet: Tuesdays:9:00am opposite the Top Lodge cottages along the Old Lodge private road. Seaford Head BN25 4JQ or TV 5043 9807 near Seaford and Eastbourne The Trust currently manages part of Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve and holds a regular task group on the first Thursday of each month to carry out practical conservation in this iconic landscape.